Combustion apparatus.



No. 871,597. PATENTED NOV. 19, 1907. J. M. W. KITCHEN.

COMBUSTION APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31. 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

In ventor:

Atty

PATENTED NOV. 19. 1907.

J. M. W. KITCHEN. COMBUSTION APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31. 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

.M/Q/MW In ventor:

A tty PATENTED NOV.

J. M. W. KITCHEN. COMBUSTION APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1906.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WM Inventor:

OOOOOOO 0000000 A tty ITO-871,597- PATENTBD NOV. 19, 1907. J. M. W.KITCHEN.

COMBUSTION APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1906. I

4 SHEETSSHE 1T 4.

% INA? OI'.

Atty

UNTTE SATES AQE OFFICE.

COMBUSTION APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 19, 1907.

Application filed May 31.1906. Serial No. 319.584-

My invention is for the purpose of secur-- ing an improvement incombustion processes for creating heat, light and power.

It is specially designed to utilize the less expensive fuels.

It consists of a combination of elements the most prominent features ofwhich are a furnace with a very high combustion chamber having a longrun, and mechanically actuated fuel mechanisms located at the bottom ofthe chamber and at a very high level.

As adjunct to these, and essentially important to the perfect working ofthe invention as a whole are: a boiler and combined economizer, acombustion engine, a gas producer, a steam super-heater, a system forparts left out for clearness'.

introducing a compressed power transmittin fluid between the combustionengine ant a prime motor, a steam condenser and air heater, a system foractuating motors and the motors used in the generator, means forproducing induced and forced draft in correct proportions, a waterpurifier and evaporator, and various pumps for compressing air, steamand water, and for exhausting.

For convenience of consideration the prominent features of my inventionmay be described as having two frontsand two sides.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure represents a vertical crosssectional v1ew of my invention, taken from one side and in the line ofcc Fig. 2, with parts left out for clearness, is partly insection, andparts are broken away. Fig. 2 represents my invention taken from onefront and in the line of b b, Fig. 1, and is a vertical cross sectionalView partly in section, with parts broken away, and with parts left outfor clearness. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of my invention,taken in the line of aa, Fig. 1, partly in section, partly broken away,and

Fig. 4 is a vertical side view of a chain grate, fuel hopper, andcombustion pit wall, comprised in my invention, on a larger scale. Fig.5 represents a single link of the chain grate and is on a stilllargerscale, as is also Fig. 6, which represents a series of links joined bybolts. Fig. 7 is an end sectional view of a part of my invention, whichis located immediately above the chain grate, and is part of the wallsurrounding the combustion chamber; it comprises means for introducingover the fire air for combustion, a fire arch, and a fuel shuntingsurface. Fig. 8 is a side view of the air introducing means shown inFig. 7. Fig. 9 represents a metallic plate used in facing the lowerfront faces of my invention, and having attached thereto fuelintroducing and grate shaking motors. Fig. 10 rep resents a gravityactuating gas-blowing, fuel-dust feeding mechanism. Fig. 11 representsthe external mechanism, for operating the fuel feeding rolls of the dustfeeding hopper shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 12 represents an ash-pan ashdischarger with its slats in a closed position. one of the shutter slatsof the ash discharger. Fig. 13 represents the slats of the discharger ina partially opened position, allowing the ashes to fall into a closedsecondary cavity below it.

The reference characters represent like parts in all the drawings.

The elements of my invention are in and are grouped around a centrallylocated combustion chamber C Figs. 1, and 3. This chamber has avertically disposed, very hi h run. It is surrounded by a heavy brickwe. 1, W, Figs. 1, and 3, built up from a solid foundation, and partlysupported bya steel frame L, Figs. 1, and 3. This is lined with firebrick. In the lower part of the combustion chamber are located fourchain grates, representedby G, Figs' 1, 2, 3 and 4, and two combustionpits represented by C, Fig. 2. These pits have unusual de th and widthfor holding a very thick bed 0 fuel, most of the fixed fuel being burnedin them with the aid of a forced draft of heated air and some steam. Therelative depth of this pit is not adequately shown in the drawings, asthe it I Fig. 14 represents M is also a wide one to allow of a considerale ratus I can produce combustible gas at the lower part of thecombustion chamber and burn it there; or I can by induction draw the gasaway to be used for combustion processes in explosion engines, or forburning in the open air, for heating, reduction processes, etc. A lowdividing wallW, Figs. 2 and 3, separates the two chain rates and onecombustion pit'on one front 0 the apparatus from those on the otherfront, thus enablin separate observation of the fire surfaces an thestoking ;management to be in manual reach from either front of thecombustion chamber. Underneath the floor line are tunnels D, Fig. 1,running parallel with the two fronts, enabling ashes to be drawn intoash cars from the ash door D Figs. 1 and 2. At the top of the combustionchamber C, are suspended shell boilers B, Figs. 1 and 2, from steelbeams L, which rest on the masonry sides of the walls of the combustionchamber,

I as

and which are also connected Withthe general steel skeleton supportingframe L, Figs.

1, and 3.

At each front of the apparatus and adj oining, the combustion chamber,is a heating cavity H, Figs. 1, 2 and 3, in which are suspended watertube sections E, Figs. 1, 2 and 3', having water tubes T, Figs. 1, 2 and3, with headers T, T, T and T These sections are all hung and arrangedin their relation to other parts so that any section can be lifted fromand removed from the cavity in which it hangs. The interior of anyheader or tube can be reached and cleansed by removing a screw plug 0ening into the interior of each. A group 0 sections is connected withthe ends of each of the shell boilers B,

and provision for the circulation of water at thehead of each section'ismade by passing down, water through the pipe T", Fig. 1,

through the header T and upward back to the boiler through the header TThe cross headers T and T are only of a width equal to each grou ofsections, and feed water is run into eac bottom. cross header T from thegeneral feed pipe U, Fig. 1. Valves are placed both at the extreme topand extreme ottom of each group of headers so that if needed the aparatus may remain in commissioneven i one group of sections may needcleanin or removal for repair. There is no circulation in this boiler asgenerally understood other than that before noted. Cold feed Water isforced in at the bottom of each group of vertical tubes, and isgradually heated in its ascent, most of the steam being disenga ed inthe shell boilers 13. Unlike most ot er boilers, the best eflicienoy ofthis one depends in connection with heat absorption on the lowestpossible temperature of the feed water.

The heatin' cavities extendfrom the combustion cham er outwardly to thetwo fronts. These cavities are surrounded by masonry ically actuatedrising and-descending scraper The lowest level" of the in thesecavities. cavities is at a height above that of the height of a man, forthe pu ose of allowing the stoking attendant to wa k underthem and comeclose to the combustion chamber, the several grates, and to thepassage-ways provided at either side of the combustion chamber on theground level. Access to these passage-ways, which contain fuel hoppersQ, is gained through the doors A; and from one front to the otherthrough the doors A which is located in a dividingwall W, Fig. 3. Thespace on both sides of the combustion chamber is divided into two airshafts Y by the wall W. To the front of the shafts Y are other shafts Yon either side of the heating cavities.

Under ordinary use when producer gas is not wanted, induced air forcombustion is drawn into the shafts Y through the ventilators V Fig. 2up through the shafts Y to and through the opening I, Fi 2, in the wallW, thence down the shaft 4 under and up through thechain grates, upthrough the combustion chamber C, through the gas openings 0, Fig. 1,down through the heating cavities H to the lowest levels of saidcavities, and thence horizontally through numer ous small flues into thelarger smoke flue F Fig. 1, to the smoke stack S, Fig. 1. The gases arethus distributed through a number of horizontally placed pipes at thebottom of the heating cavities, in order to get a uniform distributionof the heat in the cavities.

Each

of these outlets is governed by a piston shaped or other formed valve Fall of which may be removed to clean the bottom of the cavities H, andalso may be so disposed as to uniformly distribute the outflow of thegas through them. The draft induced is created by the fan N Fig. 1,actuated by its motor N In thisinvention I use an induced draftaccelerator in connection with a natural draft.

with the gases, the fan is not used, but the draft thus naturallyproduced can be accelerated at anytime by actuating the fan by theturbine motor N The heating cavities H are surrounded by the brick wallsW which are'supported in part by the general steel frame L. The bottomof each cavity is inclosed by non-concleaning purposes.

ducting movable slabs having metallic frames hinge to allow for theireasy ening for The headers I are in a trough I Fig. 1 filled with claydust, which is needed to-close the elongated apertures through which theconnecting pipes reach the headers T? from the headers T The sections Ebesides being joined to the shell boilers B are artly suspended bychains connecting the eaders T with the frame L, and partly by therestin of the headers T on the outer masonry wal s W.

' "The tops of the sections at the highest level of the cavities, arecovered in'with non-conducting material, not shown, as also are theshell boilers B. Coal bins N, Fig. 1, are connected with fuel chutes J,Figs. 1 and 2,

which discharge into the hoppers Q, Figs. l

and=2, which feed on to the chain grates. The chutes J also dischargeinto the dust I feeders JfiFigs. 2, and 11 the relation not grates 1nthe lower part of the combustion being shown in the drawings. In theapparatus as here shown provision is made for burning. bituminous cokingcoal on the chamber, it being coked in being drawn into thecombustionpit C. The coked fuel falls into the pit C, and is burned there in athick bed, by the use of a forced draft, introduced f. under the grate Gwith or without steam introduced through the pipe R, Figs. 2 and 4..

In addition to this fuel, anthracite dust or small sized anthracite coalis fed from the top of the combustion chamber from the feeders J, motoractuated rolls under control determining the amount fed. The dustdropping -.through the dust conduit J Fig. 10 along the walls at. thesides ofthe combustion chamber [fire arches K, Figs. 10, 2 and 7, and isshunted towards the combustion pit, being more or less strikes thecurved shunting surfaces W'. of the diffused in the rising gases, and isburned in the atmosphere of the combustionchamber, the lar er particlesof the fuel gravitating to the fue mass below.

In preferred forms of my invention I gravitate dust from a high levelthrough chutes,

. such as J Figs. 2 and 10, from a feeder J on the outside of thecombustion chamber walls, shunting the dust through a curved part of lthe chute into the bottom of the combustion chamber over the fuel massin a diffusedmanner.

This diffused introduction of fine fuel is accelerated by a current ofhot gas drawn from an adjacent heatingIcaVity through the conduit J 2 bthe olower 3 through the injection twyer into the upper part of thefeedin chutes J.' .The hot gas thus blown is duitsr ta (en from thelevel of a cavity in which the gas is ofa sufficiently high temperatureto dry and heat the coal dust, but notso hot as to dama e the blower andconveying conen producer gas is being made in These can be theapparatus, the gas thus used to blow fuel into the lower part of thecombustion chamber would be that gas which has lost part of its primaryheat to the heating surfaces of the steam generating means connectedwith the apparatus. The height of the combustion chamber allows for thevolatilization of fine dust by the heat evolved in the combustion pitbefore the dust can be cooled and carried out of the combustion chamberinto the heating cavities or flues of the apparatus. In some cases I usethe burned gaseous prod- ,u'cts of combustion containing a largeproportion of carbon dioxid for the blowing of fuel into the combustionchamber. Over the fire air for combustion is forcibly introduced throughthe twyer apertures W Figs. 2 and 7.

The air for forced draft is supplied by the fan Z, Fig. 2, actuated byits motor Y. The air thus supplied is drawn through a prelimina airheater, which is composed of tubes X Fig. 2, which pass through thewater tank X. The warm water of condensation is conveyed to the top ofthis tank X, and is therein cooled by the air for cornbustion beingdrawn through the tubes X by the fan Z. As the water cools, it is drawndownward to replace water pumped from the bottom of the tank for boilerfeeding and motor actuatin purposes. Water of condensation and air romthe condenser R, is injected into the top levels of the tank X throughthe distributing and injecting tubes X which float on the top of thewater by means of the connected flexible tubes X". The air forcombustion is further heated by being forced through the condenser R,Figs. 1 and 2, passing through vertical tubes therein placed, the airentering at the bottom and emerging from the top, being heated byexhaust steam in-v troduced at the top of the condenser through theopening R Fi s1 and 2. The air, after being heated by t e waste steam,is further forced through the air conduits A, Figs. 1 and 2, and iscarried into the equalizing distributer box A Fig. 7, through themetallic brackets W, and contracted twyer openings W into the combustionchamber, there eX- panding and blowing the volatilizing gases generatedon the chain grates towards the zone of the greatest heat at the centerof the combustion chamber. Any excess of heated air not needed for undergrate or over fire combustion, escapes through overflow valves not shownin the drawings, and is drawn under and through the chain rates; theamount ofair for combustion nee ed at any point is controlled by valvesV, Fig. .1. Much of this heated air is carried to and discharged intothe upper parts of the ash pits under the grates of the combustion pits.The air for induced draft is somewhat heated from the radiation from thesides of the combustion chamber in its course up and down throughpartments by the the shafts Y and Y. When producer gas is being made inthis apparatus, no air supply is allowed to be drawn under the chaingrates, the avenues for the entrance of the air thereto being closed.

P, Figs. 1 and 2 represents a water purifier and vaporizer dividedinternally into comis slightly lower t an its predecessor so that waterintroduced at one end of the purifier in gravitating successively overthese partitions'cannot be difiu'sed backwardly in the line of thetravel of thewater. Hence the water in each compartment becomes more andmore concentrated, and the last compartmentcontains the largestproportion of earthy salts or other impurities Waste steam is conveyedtherethrough in the pipes P passing horizontally from one end to theother; unpurified water is passed through the purifier P, at a levelcovering the pipes P; It enters at" the opposite end from the endwherethe waste steam enters, and its flow is regulated by valves on theinflow and outflow-pipes. [The outflow pipe is carried to a low leveland discharges into a deeply located water seal, not shown in thedrawings, to prevent inflow of air being drawn into the vaporizer when avacuum is created therein. There is space 1n the vaporizer above themaintalned water hue, and an exhausting pump D Fig. 2, communicatestherewith. When the water in the vaporizer is heated and the pump D isWorking, vapor arises from the water and is forced into theair heaterand condenser E at a level where about the same term )crature prevailsas that of the vapor intro uced. After descending to the bottom of thecondenser, any excess of vapor along with air and water of condensationis forced by the 'pum D, Fig. 2, into the higher levels of the tan X,

and to theash pit pipe R inducing more or less of a vacuum in thecondenser E. As the water which enters the vaporizer P through the pipeP progresses towards the other end, it becomes more dense from theaccumulation of earthy salts and organic impurities, and which escapeordinarily through the outflow pipe P The whole vaporizer can beinternally cleaned by means of the blow-out pipe P, and the hand hole P,Fig. 1.

D is the conduit for air and water leading to pump D.

D5 Fig. 1, is the water conduit leading to the pump D, Fig. 2.

C,Fig. 2, represents a producer gas appa-- ratus; C represents acombustion engine M'represents a water pump, and M represents acomb'inedcombustion engine andcompressor for com rcss'lng a medium for transartitions P each of which pressing and forcing steam through asuperheater, such as B Fig. 2, in' the cavity Z1 and for forcing saidcompressed steaminto a storage and pressure equalizing inclosed tank,not shown in the drawings; Such a tank would be of ordinary cylindricaltype, made of unusually strong pressure resisting sheet metal.

The object of the mechanical compression of steam is to allow of theproduction of large volumes of steam in. the boiler of the apparatus atrelatively low pressures and temperature, thus avoiding excessive strainon the boiler and decreasing risks from explosions, and to reuse exhauststeam. The

pump M, and its connecting adjuncts leading .various motors Y, actuatingthe fuel feeders,

draft fans, shakers, and other economizing features. Pressure in thewater mains is maintained and equalized by connection through the pipeM*, Fig. 2, with the tank M, Fig. 2, the upper part of which acts as acompression air chamber. This tank is supplied with a safety valve M andwitha water level gage and an automatic regulator for keeping the levelof the water at a proper height in its relation to the compressed air inthe tank. The gas producer C and the engines C and M are connected withordinary means, not shown in the drawings, for heating water andproducing steam by the waste heat of thegas producer and the combustionengines. The steam thus produced may be run in with that produced by theboilers of the apparatus, orit may be equalized in ressure with thesteam produced by those iioilers, by means of the compressor M The steamsuper-heater B Fig.2, is located in a cavity se arate from thecombustion chamber C of tiie boiler, but communicating therewith bythe-passage O at a high level.

Hot gases are drawn through the passage 0 and down through the cavity Zby means of the inducing fan Z, the control of which, through anindividual motor, determines the degreeof super-heat imparted to thesteam passing therethrough, and which is introduced in the bottom of thesuper-heater and taken out from the top through the pipe B. The heatedgases, after being drawn through the cavity Z by the fan Z, are blowninto an adjacent economizing cavity II at a level in which the usualtemperature of theheated gases in thecavityH are approximately the sameas those passing through the fan Z In my invention, in. economizingwaste heat,I practice the principle of introducing the medium conveyingthe waste heat at a level in the economizer where the tempera ture of.the medium to be heated is approximately the same as the temperature ofthe medium conveying'the waste heat. inthe utilization of the heat ofthe combustion engine, I lead the hotgases intoan economiz'er at. anappropriate level to ap ly this just mentioned rinciple, as indicated intheeconomizer C *ig. 2, where illustrative provision is made to applysuch waste heat at. several levels. The super-heater B Fig. 2 isstrongly made, 'toresist high internal pressures, and is notin aposition to bedamaged by the di root-exposure to the excessive heat ofvery hot gases or flame, as is the case where a super-heater isintroduced in a combustion chamber. Fig. 4 represents a side verticalview of a chain gratev G, a fuel hopper Q, and one lateral wall'C of thecombustion pit 0 four of whichgrates are used in the apparatus. The

grate is supported on a sectional frame with a bed plate B unitedly heldrigid by the splice late B Two bracketed uprights B are bo ted .to. Band hold the two shafts of the grate. The shaft nearest the pit C hassprocket wheels which run in connection with the chain web. Theactuating motor Y, see Fig. 9, is connected with. this shaft, and hencethe chain web is dragged away from the fuel hopper Q. instead of beingpushed from it asin other stokers. This provision allows for a looserchain web being maintained, and hence lessens friction. The sidesof..the fuel hopper Q are cast in one withthe supporting bracket underthe iece liopper. The rear side of the hopper Q is hinged at the to tothe ho per, and the side is hinged in itsel f at Q. e cam Q pushes thesideQ inward, and thus regulates the flow offuel on to the chain web.Track beams B? are bolted to and connect the bracketed uprights, and onthese tracks run the wheels included in the chain web. Fig. 5 representsone side view of one chain web link L and the traveling wheels L Fig. 6represents a horizontal under side view of several of the links andtraveling wheels bolted together, with washers outside of the links. Thetop of the links L are curved in harmony with the circle they travel inbeing carried around the actuating shaft. This enables the pointed to ofthe wall 0 to be constructed close to t ecurvatures of the tops of thelinks, and to completely separate the fuel from the chain web and causeit to fall into the combustion pit. A duplicate chain grate and wallbeing 0 posite to the one described, and at a reguated distance from it,enables the fuel as it falls from both grates to more or-less fill thecombustion pit, the level of the fuel therein being regulated by therapidity with which the chain grates Thus,

7 too great heat.

are run and the intensity of the enforced draft acting through the pit,and the activity of the grate shaking mechanism actuating the grate barsof the grate G Fig. 7 re resents the construction of the wall of botsides of the combustion chamber immediately above the chain grates.Heavy steel supporting beams L are carried .across and above the chaingrates, and support the masonry walls built on them. Metallic brackets Ware bolted to the supporting beams. Air cavities run through thesebrackets, connecting at one end with the air pipes A, and at the otherend with the twyer openings W Specially formed fire brick W are runbetween the brackets, resting on curvatures on the sides of thebrackets, and form the bottom of' the fire arch K. These fire brickprotect the metallic brackets from Other specially formed brick arebuilt over the brackets, forming the surface of the shunting slo e W ofthe fire arch K. The air tubes A t in the bottom of the air distributorbox A and cone shaped stoppers are hung into the to s of the tubes A,and are drawn up orlet own by chains run over the partial rim A actuatedby a shaft. As the stop ers are more or less lowered, the entrance 0 airto the air tubes is shut off, and thus the air for combustion can bedistributed equally into the combus- 'tion chamber 0, through the twyeropenings W Fig. 8 shows a rear'view o the parts shown in Fig. 7. The airgoes-into the box A through the air conductor A. The handle H raises andlowers the cone shaped stoppers of the lifting air valves A. In the samefigure W shows the fire brick in section, and W a bracket in section.

Fig. 9 is afront vertical view of the metallic lat'e's F, with which arefaced the lower outs of the combustion chamber, and in which are locatedobservation doors Y and to which are attached the motors Y, and the tripspring shaker Y This shaker consists of a horizontal bar which is movedfrom side to side .by reci rocating cylinders on both sides. A spur S onthe horizontal bar engages with a lever carried upward from the gratebars. As this spur S is pulled one way after passing the lever a certaindistance, the lever is released and is sprung back in place with a quickjerk by the s ring S which action dislodges the ashes om the fuel massin the combustion pit O. This jerking action is repeated with eachreciprocal passage of the trip ing horizontal bar. A rotary motor mayeused with 'this shaker. Water under pressure is carried to the severalmotors through the water c'onduits M, each of which has an independentvalve, the -manipulation of which regulates the speed of the motors.

The ash dischar or shown in Figs. '12, 13 and 14 is located fielowfthecombustion pit the ash pit at the bottom of the accumulated Cand'divides the ash pit there situated into' are ash moving ridges. Thedischarger is actuated by the handle G Figs. 12' and 13. This ashdischarger allows ashes to be drawn fromthe ashes collected in the upperpart of ashes, Where the heat of the ashes has been conveyed upwardly;and allows articles of partly burned fuel, whic'h pas's t rough thegrate G to complete their combustion in the presence of the heated air"forced into the combustion pit. The cool strata of ashes is siftedthrough the discharger into the lower part of the ash pit withoutcarrying therewith the hot layer of ashes. G are ash chutes leading frombelow the chain grates. In this apparatus I force air or other ases fromthe periphery of the combustion 0 amber at a level justabove the fuelmass of the apparatus in a manner so as to have opposingcurrents meet ina part of the combustion chamber immediately above the zone of the mostintense heat, thereby securing a very quick and complete admixture ofthe gases at a very low level in. the combustion chamberf It is obviousthat this principle can be applied in a combustion chamber having acircular form, and having a centrally located place of intensecombustion.

In a combustion apparatus of the nature herein described, a greatadvantage is gained by having an outside source of power generation andproviding means for its a plication to the various motors actuatin t egrates,

draft fans, fuel feeding and ot er motored parts of the ap aratus,through the ability to increase or tion in the ap aratus by one actionin connection with t e management of the outside source of powergeneration. For example: the mere turning of a valve on the deliver pipefrom the cpm ressed air and water tanh or the m'ampu ation of the valvesuppl ing gas to the engine C would synchronously control the activityof all the motors in the system pertaining to the combustion process.Hence the rate .of combustion in the a paratus can be convenientlyvaried without producing through derangement any defect in 'the qualityof the combustion process. This advantage is not enjoyed in stationarypower plants at the present time; in which plants great derangement inthe combustion process is experienced whenever there is a sudden callfor a large increase in the rate of combustion to meet exigenciesdepending upon increase of load in the plant motored by the powergenerated in the combustion apparatus of the plant.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a combustion apparatus having a ecrease the rate of combus erasercombustion chamber and two sides, and- ,grate for said pit, an as'h pitbelow said combustion pit, means for inducing a draft in said combustionchamber, means for forcing a draft through the fuel in said combustionpit, means for introducing steam under said ml in said. combustion pit,and means for forcing air for combustion in divided currents .over' saidchain grates toward said combustion' pit.

2. In a' combustion apparatus having a front and two sides and acombustion chamber, the combination of means for securing free access toall parts-of the fuel mass from the front of said apparatus, means forthe introduction of fuel on both sides of said apparatus and for cokingsaidfuel and for moving the said fuel towards'the center of saidap'paratus, a grate at said center. comprising .means forshaking and dumpingsaid fuel,

means for diifusedly introducing air for combustion around the peri heryof the combustion chamber of the said apparatus, means for preventingthe escape of gaseous products of combustion'through the means forintroducing air, means for controlling the supply of air thusintroduced, and means for protecting from excessive heat the means forair introduction.

3. In a combustion apparatus, the combination of a combustion chamberhaving an elongated vertically disposed run .of su'llicient height tosecure the combustion of coal-dust and of volatilized gases before saiddust and gases are brought into contact with heat absorbing surfaces andbefore said dust can be carried out of said combustion chamber, amechanically acting fuel feeding grate, means for feeding fine fuel intosaid chamber from a high level, means for scour ing the diffusion ofsaid fine fuel.zin the atmosphere of said chamber and f-over said grate,said grate being located ata low level of said chamber, said elementsacting in harmony w1th the force of gravlty in secur ing the saiddistribution of fuel in the passage of said fuel from the high levelfrom which said fuel is fed, and means for forcibly introducing air forcombustion under and above said grate and for drawing gases over theheating surfaces of a boiler.

' 4.- In a combustion apparatus having a front and two sides and acombustion chunk ber, first, means for storing fuel at the two sides ofsaid apparatus, second, means for drawing fuel from the two sides ofsaid apparatus towards the center of said combustion chamber and forvolatilizing said fuel, a combustion pit at said center surrounded atthe sides of said pit 'by heat refractory fuel retaining walls, meansfor preventing the loss of fuel by sifting through said second namedmeans,means for separating said fuel from the second named means and forsecuring its entrance into the said it, a grate in said pit, means forshaking and dumping said grate, means for forcibly introducing air forcombustion under said grate through said pit and over the several namedmeans and for drawing gases over the heating surfaces of a boiler.

5. In a combustion apparatus having a,

combustion chamber, the combination of means for drawing fuel from aside of said apparatus and for volatilizing said fuel'and fordischarging said fuel into a place of combustion, said place ofcombustion providing for the maintenance of a thick bed of fuel and forthe shaking and dumping of said fuel, means for forcing a draft throughsaid thick bed of fuel, means for feeding. finefuel diffusedly into theatmosphere of said combustion chamber and over the fuel being drawn tosaid place of combustion and over said thick bed of fuel by the actionof gravity operating on said fine fuel in descending from a fuel feederhighly located to the lower part of said combustion chamber, and throu hdeflection and through the aid of air forcibIy introduced at the side ofsaid combustion chamber, said highly located fuel feeder,

and a high run combustion chamber, said combination including means fordiffusedly introducing fine fuel into said apparatus by blowing saidfine fuel over a gas producing heat engendering mass of fuelautomatically fed, means for automatically feeding said last named fuelsaid blowing being accomplished with a gas free of uncombined oxygen,such as carbon dioxid and other gaseous products of combustion, forsecuring a fuel diffusion'in the atmosphere of said means and foravoidingi'explosion.

7. In a combustion ap aratus, the combination of means for ma ingso-called producer gas comprising a deep combustion pit and a high runcombustion chamber, said combination including means for diffusedlyinblowing said fine fuel over a gas producing heat engendering mass offuel automatically fed, means for automaticallyfeeding the last namedfuel, said blowing bein accomplished with a gas free of uncombinedoxygen, such as carbon dioxid and other gaseous products of combustion,for securing a fuel diffusion in the combustion chamber of said firstnamed means and for avoiding explosion, and means for securing adiflused fuel feeding in said apparatus by a high drop of said fuel froma fuel feeder.

- '8. In a combustion apparatus, means for making a combustible gas,said means comprising a grate for burning soft bitunnnous coal having ahigh percentage of easily volatilized gaseous elements, means forsupplying and accurately controlling the amount of air supplied undersaid grate and above the fuel mass of said apparatus, means-forcontaining burning and baking a thick fuel mass n making said gas, meansfor conveying said gas to ahigh level and for absorbing heat from saidgas by first applying said gas to said heat absorbing means at said highlevel and progressively applying said gas at progressively lower levelscooling said gas in the progressively downward travel of said gas, andmeans for an exit of said gas at a low level, said last named meanscomprising provision for conveyin a cold fluid through said means from alow evel to a high level, said cold fluid in its progress upwards(gradually absorbing heat from said gas an cooling said gas.

9. In a combustion apparatus, the coma second cavity containing a gas ofa lower temperature than that of the highest temperature of the gases insaid apparatus,

named cavity and conveying said gas to the cavity below said grate forkeeping said grate cool and for modifyin the intensity of the rate ofcombustion and for eflecting a dimi nution in the average temperature ofthe gases formed in said apparatus through an augmentation of volume ofnewly formed heating gases and yet not changing the chemical characterof the gases, means for effectively absorbing the diluted diminishedheat of the augmented volume of gas, said last named means comprising aneconomizer, and means for controlling the amount of gas thus used toaugment the volume of gas and for diminishing the temperature of saidgas.

10. In a combustion apparatus having two fronts and two sides, thecombination of a fuel grates at a low level of said cham er, accessoryfuel feeders at a hi 11 level ofsaid apparatus for the gravity eeding offuel, a

steam producing device at the top of said bination of a grate, a cavityunder said grate,

means for drawing gas from the secondcombustion chamber having anelongated vertical run and having heat refractor walls,

troducing fine fuel into said apparatus by i chamber, two heatingcavities located adjacent said chamber and extending to the front ofsaid apparatus, said cavities extending downward to a level slightlyabove'the altitude of a man to allow the furnace attendant to have freeaccess to the fronts of said com- Sbustion chamber, air conveyingpassages or shafts at the sides of said apparatus for conveyinginducedair drafts over the radiating sides of said apparatus, means forinducing adraft through said air passages combustion chamber andcavities, and means for forcing a draft under and above said grates.

. 11. In a combustion apparatus, the combi nation of a combustionchamber, a horizontally moving grate drawing fuel from a hopper to aplace of combustion, said hopper, said place of combustion, means forinducing a draft in saidapparatus,-means for forcing a draft throughsaid place of combustion, means for controlling the induced draftpassing under and through said horizontally moving grate, and means forcontrolling the amount of air being forced through said place ter gases,and means for economizing the heat given to the cooler gases in thediluting processes through the progressive application of the combinedgases of average lower temperatures to heat absorbing surfaces having"appositely tosaid surfaces a fluid traveling in a reversed directionfrom that traveled by the combined hot and cooler gases.v

13. In a combustion apparatus comprising a combustion chamberofsufiicient vertical extent for the burning of coaldust and having afuel burning grate at its lowest level and having an adjacent heatingcavity and accessory fuel feeder at a high level, means for conductingfine fuel from said feeder downwardly and into a lower level of saidcombustion chamber, means for drawing hot gases from said cavityandinjecting said gases into the top of said last named means said gasesbeing as hotv as the drawing and injecting structures will ,withstandwithout damage, for accelerating the motion of the fuel fed from a. highlevel, and for heating and drying said fuel, and for diffusing said fuelin 'said combustion chamber;

14. In afurnace, the combination of two chain grates conveying fuel to acentrally located combustion pit constructed and arranged to contain andburn a thick bed of ing. saidfuel from ashes, an as fuel, saidcombustion pit, means for forcing an air draft through said combustionpit,

'means for inducing a draft in said furnace,

means for shaking the fuel in said it for freepit, and means forreinovinghshes from said ash pit 'Without disturbing the draft forcedthrough said combustion pit and for heating the air of the draft forcedthrough said combustion pit. 15. In a. combustion apparatus, thecombination of (1) a vertically elongated combustion perfecting chamberhaving heat refractory side walls, (2) means located at a low level ofsaid combustion chamber for moving fuel from the sides of saidapparatus, volatilizing said fuel, and discharging said fuel'into aplace of combustion for fuel below said level in the center line of saidchamber, (3) said place of combustion, said place having heat refractoryWalls and being arranged for the, maintenance of a thick bed of fuel,(4) means for feeding fine fuel lnto the lower partof said combustionchamber from a level high in its relation to said apparatus,

, for securing through the momentum acquired by a long drop, adiffusedintroduc- .tion of said fuel into, the said chambei (5) meansfor assisting said diffusion by blowing said finefuel with a gas of aselected temperature, (6) means'for forcing a draft'through the fuel insaid place of combustion, i (7) means for introducing steam through saidfuel, (8) means for forcing a draft of airfor combustion over the fuelintroduced by said second named means from opposite sides of saidcombustion chamber for the impact of currents of air thus introduced ata low level and over said place of combustion and for regulating thesupply of air thus introduced, (9) means formechanically inducing adraft in said apparatus, (10) means for securing the absorption of largevolumes of heat of low degrees oftemperature in said apparatus, (11)means for securing the regenerating economization of the. latent heat ofthe steam produced in said apparatus after said steam has expanded inpassing through a motor, and (12) means for exploding gases, (13) meansfor compressing a power transmitting medium and for using said medium intransmitting power to means for actuating the fuel-moving, draftproducing, pumping and compressing devicesof said apparatus, and (14)said devices. I I

16. In a combustion apparatus having, a combustion chamber and havingprovision for an approach to and access to the two fronts and two sidesof the combustion chamber of said apparatus, the com ination of (1 meansfor said access and sai approach, (2) means for storing fuel on bothsides of said apparatus, (3) means for receiving and chamber and beingconstructed to substantially prevent the lateral transmission of heatgenerated in said third named means, (4) means for transferring fuelfrom said second named means in a thin horizontally dis osed andhorizontally moving layer into sai third named means without substantiakescape of fuel from below or at the sides of said third and fourth namedme'ansand comprisingprovisionfor pulling said fuel from said secondnamed means to said third named means, (5) means for automaticallygiving a short, quick, regularly interrupted shaking motion to said fuelfor keeping said fuel substantially continuously free from ashes, (6)means for forcing air for combustion through said thick bed of fuel, (7)means for forcing air for combustion or other gases in divided currentsat distributed intervals over said third and fourth named means, and (8)means for separately and accurately controlling the amount of any gasintroduced into said apparatus that may affect the combustion process insaid apparatus.

17. In a combustion apparatus, the combination of a combustion chamberhaving a high vertical run, and heat refractory, non conducting lateralwalls, means for producing at will at the bottom of said chamber acombustible gas, and for burning said gas in said chamber, means forsecuring the economization of the heat of said gas for the production ofsteam, and for the super-heating of steam by conveying hot gas and apying said gas from a high level to a low levdl, and for controlling theamount of gas thus produced and conveyed, means for preventing radiationby surrounding. said chamber by heat economizing cavities, means forutiliz ing the naturally, induced draft in said apparatus, andaccelerating said natural draft by the action of a mechanism forinducing a draft and yet not interfering with the passing of said gasesthrough said mechanism when acting under the influence of the naturaldraft, said mechanism for inducing a draft, means for producing adistilled vapor by a counter-current of waste steam passed through acurrent of water, and for utilizing said vapor in the replenishment ofsteam used in, the said apparatus, means for the primary heating of airfor combustion with hot water of condensation and for the secondaryheating of the same air with exhaust steam, means for utilizing exhauststeam in modifying the combustion process in said pit, means forexploding gas and forcompressing steam, air and water, and for utilizingexhaust heat by its economizing absorption at any selected level in theecono: mizing cavities in the said apparatus, means for utilizingcompressed steam through its use inactuating motors, and means forsecuring the complete combustion of the fuel sifted through the gratesof said apparatus,

andfor preventing the loss of heat in the ashes of said fuel.

18. In a combustion apparatus, the combination of means for supplyingfuel from two sides of the apparatus, means for drawing fuel from-twosides to the .centerfof: said apparatus and for burning said fuelin athick mass at said center, means for supplying an a ro riate su l of airfor effectin the comligsti on of sai d f el in a thick mass and meansfor intermittently shaking said fuel mass for clearing the ashestherefrom.

19. In a combustion apparatus having two fronts and two sides, thecombination of means for gaining access to the full width of the lowerpart of the combustion chamber along the said fronts of said apparatussaid combustion chamber, means for supplying fuel from the two saidsides of said apparatus, and a grate, said grate comprising mechanicallyactuated automatic means for the coking of fuel, for the burning of thefuel when coked, and for keeping the fuel free from ashes.

20. In a combustion apparatus having two fronts and two sides, thecombination of a combustion chamber, a combustion pit for a thick bed offuel, means for forcing air for combustion through said thick bed offuel,

means for coking fuel with the radiant heat of the burning fuel in saidapparatus, automatically acting means for keeping said fuel mass freefrom ashes, means for reventin the lateral loss of heat from said i delin sai pit, means for preventing sifting of unburned fuel to a placeoutside of the place for burning fuel in said combustion apparatus,means for supplying fuel at the two sides of said apparatus, means fordrawing said fuel from the two sides of said appara ms to the zone ofthe greatest intensity of.

heat in said apparatus and for securing the combustion of said fuel bothin solid and gaseous state at said zone of most intense heat, first at alow level and then progressively in a rising. {current over said zone,means for facilitating the dismemberment and removal laterally throughsaid two sides 25 phe parts of said element for conveying 21.. In acombustion apparatus, the combination of means for heating air with theheat of waste steam and hot water of condensation, and means for usingsaid heated air in said a paratus for economically improving com ustionin said apparatus said means comprising a storage reservoir for storinga deep body of water of condensation and for transferring the heat inthe water stored in said reservoir to said air on the principle ofheatin said air progressively in its progress throug said water, and forlosing the heat in said water progressively to sand air.

22. In a combustion apparatus, the combination of means for heating airwith waste steam and the hot water of condensed steam, and forming airthus heated in said appara tus, said air being first heated with theheat of the hot water of condensation at a low level and then heatedwith the heat of said waste steam at a higher level, and means forconveying waste steam through the burning fuel in said apparatus, saidelements assembling and all co-acting in the improvement of combustionsand economizing fuel. in power production or for heating.

23'. In a combustionapparatus, the combination with a combustion chamberof (1st) means for conveying waste steam andair vertically in countercurrents for progressively heating air for'combustion and progressivelylosing heat from said waste steam to said air, (2) means for heating andvaporizing water with Waste steam, and (3) means for taking the warmvapor produced in said first and second named means and compressing thesameand conducting said comressed vapor under and into the burningfile]: insaid apparatus, saidelements co-acting for theproduction of aneconomical combustion. 7

24. I11 a combustion apparatus, the combination of a combined steamcondenser and air heater, means for drawing. air through said condenserand air heater for heating said air and for using said air when heatedfor processes of combustion, and means for drawing steam. and vapor fromsaid condenser and for passing said steam and vapor through a bed ofburning fuel.

25. In a combustion apparatus, the combination with a combustion chamberof means for heating air for combustion in said apparatus, said meanscomprising, (1st) a part for storing the water of condensation and wastesteam and for passing air therethrough for the primary heating of saidair, and (2nd) apart for passing air through uncondensed 'waste steamfor 'the increased heating of saidair, and means for employing vaporfrom said second named part and forcing said vapor through the fuel massin said apparatus, for the production of an economica combustion.

26.1 In a combustion ap aratus, the combination of a deep fire pot f drholding a, thick mass of fuel, means for forcing air for combustionthrough said thick mass of fuel, means for'continuously introducing fuelinto the combustion'chamber of said a paratus from the side of saidchamber and fbr conveying said fuel to and discharging said fuel intothe top of said deep fire 0t, and means for introducing a.llOIYlZOIliZfiiY directed supply of air above and across said fire potand for controlling the amount of air thus introduced,

and forjentirely preventing such air intros duction when desired, saidelements co-acting to securea perfectedv combustion and to motoractuated element for -means for actuating said prevent undesirable airdilution of the gaseous products of combustion.

27. In-a combustion ap aratus, the combination of a combustion c amber,a place of combustion centrally-located in said apparatus and comprisinga deep fire pot, means for separately forcing an intense rate ofcombustion through said fire pot and for also regulating another rate ofcombustion in said combustion chamber in places apart from saidcentrally located place, and means for forcing gases from the peripheryof said combustion chamber at a low level towards the center of saidcombustion chamber to the fuel mass at said center and immediately abovethe said centrally located place of combustion for the intimateintermingling I of air and gases of combustion at a low level in saidcombustion chamber and for protecting structure that would be destroyedby too intense heat.

28. In a combustion apparatus, the combination of a combustion chamberand a grate, a storage reservoir for a fluid, and a.

system for actuating the motor elements of said apparatus, said systemcomprising a motor and pressure pump, said pump drawing fluid from saidreservoir and directing it to said motor, pipes leading from said pumpto a fluid and compressed air storage tank, said tank, a pipe connectingsaid tank and a actuating said element with the fluid stored underpressure in said tank and delivered under pressure to said actuatedelement, said motor actuated element, and means for conveying fluid fromsaid last named element to said storage reservoir, said elementsco-ac-tingin the economical production of a perfected combustion in saidapparatus.

29. In a combustion apparatus, the. combination. of a combustion chamberand a grate, means for producing explosive gases, means forexplodlng'gases, means for transferring the power created by explosionto ,a power transmitting elastically ex ansible medium and fordistributing sai power through said medium to means for actuating themoving parts of said apparatus, said moving parts, said namedcombination being for the equalization and distribution of the powergenerated by explosion and for actuatlng motors used in connection withgaining an economical perfected combustion in said apparatus, saidcombination being exemplified by a system comprising a producer gasgenerator, a combustion engine, a water and compressed air tank, motoractuatedfans, shaki mg grates, air heating means, and means for forcingsteam through the burning fuel.

30. In a combustion apparatus, the combination of a furnace havlng ahigh run oombustion perfecting chamber to give time and space for theperfection of combustion be.

- fore the heating gases are brought in contact with heat absor ingsurfaces, means fora difiused overfire air introduction, means foreconomizing low degrees of heat from the heating gases, the heateconomizing absorbing features of said apparatus bein separate from saidcombustion perfecting c amber, a igilate, said grate comprising meansfor coking e1 at the, sides ofsald grate and for movin saidfueltowardsthe center of said grate an for shaking said fuel at thecenter of said grate, and means at the front of said appa ratus forsecuring free access to the entire width ofsaid grate in the managementof said a aratus.

31. n a' combustion apparatus, the combination of a combustion chamber,a motor actuated grate, a draft producing fan, other rnotor devicespertaining to said apparatus,

and means comprising provision for inde-' pendently generating power andfor-supplyng the power thus generated to all the motor driven 1garts ofsaid apparatus and for controlling om said means the rate of combustionproduced in said apparatus through synchronous action of the motordriven de- Signed at New York, N. Y. this 29" day of May 1906.

JOSEPH Moses WARD KITCHEN.

Witnesses:

OL1-vn B. Knvo, Gno. L.'WHEELOCK.

